, 1887-12-29

kane valley as the outlet from tho
Rocky mountains OF their great trans
continental route. The mill had been
erected the previous year by L. r.
Scranton, j. j. Downing and Mr..
Benjamin to supply the expected de-
mand for building material which the
early advent of the Northern Pacific
road would naturally create. The
collapse OF the great enterprise in it.
incipiency was blight to the hopes
of these hardy pioneers, and one of
the firm, Mr.. Scranton, having re-
lapsed into tho communistic plan of
raising revenue off his neighbor's
ing an interv.ew with the sheriff. This
state OF afsairs was Secoyning disagree
able to the little community, and Mr..
Glover's arrival on the scere ut that
time from Salem, Oregon, was most
were anxious to go further west, and
Mr.. Glover easily negotiated the
entire improvements and squatter's
rights for $4,000, which was most
liberal sum. Scranton, the fugitive,
concealed in clump of under brush
on the Big Island, had to be ap-
preached in boat under cover of
darkness, to complete the transfer.
A dabbler at law, named Swift, had
also built comfortable log house
some quarter of mile from the falls,
near where the railroad water tank
now stands, and his wife vas acting
as poetmistress. The mail service
was up the Columbia and Snake
rivers, via Lewiston, at that time the
largest town in the upper country be-
sides Walla Walla. Major Il. H.
Wimpy, one OF the pioneers Of the
Palouse country, and subsequently
representative of Stevens county in
the legislature, had the contract for
delivering the mail weekly.
After thus gaining possession OF the
future townsite, Mr.. Glover was joined
by j. N. Matheney, of Salem, and G.
f. Yeaton, Of Portland, in partner
ship for the purpose Of running the
sawmill and dealing in lumber and
general merchandise. The pioneer
settlers were scattered widely apart,
from Snake river to Colville, and
Stevens county, then embraced, besides
its present liniits, the counties of Spo
kane, Lincoln and Douglas. Proba-
bly, not over $50, besides the garrison
at Colville, would sum up the entire
white population from Snake river to
the British line. It was daring
venture to risk ones property, not to
say life, in such isolation, although
the Indians were peaceably inclined,
and even anxious to adopt the white
mans civilization. But the sparse
settlements afforded renegade adven
turers an excellent opportunity for
depredations and lawlessness. The
predomin lance of brave and upright
citizens, however. was so noted that
but few efforts at pillage and violence
try prospered finely. considering its
feeble beginnings. Besides those al
ready mentioned, and most Of whom
are enjoying the prosperity OF to- day,
were j. f. Moran, of Moran Prairie;
NJ. M. Cowley, trader at Spokane
Bridge; VIM. Spangle, founder OF the
town Of Spangle; Henry Kaiser, q
ranchman up the valley; Maxine and
Peter Muluoine, proprietors of the
California ranch; Steve Liberty and
D .niel Com c',airs. their nearest
ueighbors, Frederick Post, who owned
the original site of the town
Of Rathdrum, Hiram Still, q
neighbor, and Messrs. LIE Fevre
i4al,ris and Murphy, of the Medical
Luke region. The task which con.
fronted the new arm Of improving
their investment and securing q llv.
Ing In the face Of the slow resuc,lta'
tisn which was the apparent pros